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Original poster

How would you feel after climbing six flights of stairs?

107 replies

Adreno · 22/09/2023 14:38

I had to climb six flights of very steep stairs quite quickly today.

I’m quite unfit but have been trying lately to eat better, lose some weight, and move more.

Just wondering, how you would feel after doing that and what’s your general fitness level?

I’m 40, for reference.

OP posts:
SirChenjins · 22/09/2023 14:40

Like I was about to have a heart attack probably. 54, not fit enough to climb six flights briskly without being v out of breath.

Graciebobcat · 22/09/2023 14:42

OK, not out of breath. I'm 48 and a bit overweight (BMI 27).

I go to the gym three times a week pretty religiously and also do a yoga class, and walk as much as possible. I do the mountain climber for ten minutes in the gym ok so stairs should be ok.

I haven't run outside for a while but I'm sure I could run a 5k without too much trouble, not in a particularly fast time but without stopping.

WhatFlavourIsIt · 22/09/2023 14:44

I do it pretty regularly. Work on building sites so often no lift available. I'm usually carrying at least a bucket & some cleaning supplies. Usually, by the 9th floor, my calfs are burning & I have to start controlling my breathing (47)

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Exercise & fitness
willingtolearn · 22/09/2023 14:46

I'm old and fat but exercise regularly.

I'd be fine if I took it steady.

Rushing/sprinting it I'd be huffing and puffing at the top.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 22/09/2023 14:47

My fitness levels have dropped over the last few months. I climbed a lighthouse recently so possibly similar to 6 flights? My heart was pounding, could breath OK and legs OK though. I need to up my fitness.

Sunnyweatherwoman · 22/09/2023 14:47

I'd be a bit breathless but ok, I do that many flights at work regularly during a shift. I'm 40 and quite fit.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 22/09/2023 14:50

I'm 57 and would struggle to do it quickly. I'm overweight (BMI 27) and my fitness is ok but not great - I swim a few times a week and do 2 Pilates classes a week, but not much else.

Ceraunophile · 22/09/2023 14:51

Depends on the day. My house is 4 storey and most days I’m fine going up and down and don’t even notice it but other days I have to drag myself up the last flight.
I’m early 40s, not very fit but walk a lot

Bristolnewcomer · 22/09/2023 14:51

I used to work on the 6th floor and take it from me, very few people chose to use the stairs. It depends somewhat on the height of the floors (so was each floor one short flight of stairs or were there high ceilings meaning each floor is two mini flights). Right now I'm pregnant I'd say I'd give up at floor 4. Usually I'd be very out of breath by 6 and wouldn't be pleased.

What about you?

Mabelface · 22/09/2023 14:53

I'd need a little lie down at the top. 53, unfit and working on it. 😉

BCCoach · 22/09/2023 14:58

Fine. Mid-50s. At university we had a 12-storey tower and in the evening we would run up it with weighted rucksacks and get the lift back down again to minimise recovery time. Think my record was 20 reps before the cleaners told us to get lost. I don't think I could do that now but my usual 5k run has 120m of climbing (40 flights of stairs? I don't know how big an official 'flight of stairs is') and weekend bike rides typically have 1500m+ of climbing.

I'm still quite proud of my ability to go up stuff, despite being an awful lot slower than in my youth.

BodegaSushi · 22/09/2023 14:59

I wouldn't know because I would collapse halfway to the third Grin

cocksstrideintheevening · 22/09/2023 15:00

My house is three flights and if I run top to bottom i'm out of breath. Take it slowly I'm fine. 45, just about fit enough.

headcheffer · 22/09/2023 15:02

Sweaty and out of breath! I'm very overweight!

Daisyislazy · 22/09/2023 15:07

I would need resuscitated

Verite1 · 22/09/2023 15:13

I’m relatively fit. Regularly run 5-10 k, do Pilates etc. But one of my friends lives on fourth floor with no lift and I’m ALWAYS out of breath when I get to the top. I don’t know why. Maybe my lungs don’t like stairs!!

FlowersareEverything · 22/09/2023 15:16

I would probably be ok until the ambulance arrived.

Daisyislazy · 22/09/2023 15:17

FlowersareEverything · 22/09/2023 15:16

I would probably be ok until the ambulance arrived.

🤣🤣

Ginmonkeyagain · 22/09/2023 15:19

Fine. I do that every day. At least once a week I will be carrying five bags of heavy shopping. I live in a third floor flat and there are two flights of stairs between floors. Before then I will have walked up a steep hill for 5 mins and then up a sloped driveway.

I am 45 and have a resting heart rate of 57.

Tdcp · 22/09/2023 15:19

There's 103 steps from the ground floor to my office, 18 months in and I still feel like I'm going to die every time😂

Ginmonkeyagain · 22/09/2023 15:19

So the lesson is if you want to stay fit live in an upper floor flat at a top of a steep hill. 😄

avocadotofu · 22/09/2023 15:20

I'd feel a little out of breath but okay. I'm fit-ish.

ReadyForPumpkins · 22/09/2023 15:22

I'll feel an elevated heart rate but have no problem with it. I'm nearly 50.

EllaMenopee · 22/09/2023 15:25

I recently ran from a basement car park to 4th floor flat (was racing ds in the lift) so only 5 storeys but I was out of puff when I got there. I could have pushed another if I had to. Recovered pretty quickly. Even at my fittest and able to run 10k reasonably easily I would have found stairs more challenging.

gamerchick · 22/09/2023 15:25

Wouldn't be much of a problem but I'm pretty fit.